HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2020-01-30 minutes.pdf
City of Maple Ridge
Agricultural Advisory Committee
MEETING MINUTES
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee, held in the Blaney Room,
at Maple Ridge City Hall on January 30, 2020 at 7:08 pm.
____________________________________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Councillor Gordy Robson Council Liaison
Andrew Pozsar Member at Large
Candace Gordon Haney Farmers Market Society Representative
Carla Schiller, Vice Chair Member at Large
Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Representative
Pascale Shaw Member at Large
Angela Boss Ministry of Agriculture (Non-voting member)
Shannon Lambie Agriculture Land Commission (Non-voting member)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
Amanda Grochowich Staff Liaison / Planning Department
Erin Mark Committee Clerk
GUESTS
Dr. Bob Masse
Agneta Eikelenboom President of North Fraser Bee Club
Grace Cockle Metro Vancouver, Air Quality and Climate Change
Julie Saxton Metro Vancouver, Air Quality Bylaw and Regulation
Development
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Bill Hardy, Chair Member at Large
Michelle Franklin Member at Large
Note: Councillor Robson chaired the meeting as the Presiding Member in attendance.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
R/2020-001
It was moved and seconded
That the January 30, 2020 Agricultural Advisory Committee agenda be amended to add:
Item 4.2 – Delegation - Decline of Pollinators;
Item 6.4 – Metro Vancouver AAC Meeting - Mileage Reimbursement;
and be approved as amended.
CARRIED
3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
R/2020-002
It was moved and seconded
That the minutes of the Maple Ridge Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting dated October
24, 2019 be adopted.
CARRIED
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
January 30, 2020
Page 2 of 4
4. DELEGATIONS
Note: Shannon Lambie arrived at 7:15 pm. Item 4.2 was moved ahead of Item 4.1.
4.2 Decline of Pollinators
Dr. Robert Masse and Agneta Eikelenboom from the North Fraser Bee Club
Dr. Masse and Ms. Eikelenboom spoke about the global problem of a decrease in bee
populations, the resulting impacts and the causes of the decline. Dr. Masse provided
suggestions on how the City can support nature’s pollinators and answered questions from
the Committee.
R/2020-003
It was moved and seconded
That the Agricultural Advisory Committee support the City of Maple Ridge signing the Bee City
Canada Resolution and explore an educational campaign to increase nature’s pollinators.
CARRIED
4.1. Metro Vancouver Open-Air Burning
Dr. Julie Saxton and Grace Cockle, Metro Vancouver
Dr. Saxton and Ms. Cockle gave a presentation on Metro Vancouver’s Consultation on an
Alternative Approach for Regulating Open-Air Burning Emissions, sought the Committee’s
feedback on new regulations that are being considered, and answered questions from the
Committee.
5. QUESTION PERIOD – Nil
6. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6.1. Chair and Vice-Chair Selection
The staff liaison opened up the floor to nominations for Chair of the Agricultural Advisory
Committee for 2020.
R/2020-004
It was moved and seconded
That Bill Hardy be elected as Chair for the Agricultural Advisory Committee for 2020.
CARRIED
The staff liaison opened up the floor to nominations for Vice Chair of the Agricultural
Advisory Committee for 2020.
R/2020-005
It was moved and seconded
That Carla Schiller be elected as Vice-Chair for the Agricultural Advisory Committee for
2020.
CARRIED
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
January 30, 2020
Page 3 of 4
6.2. 2020 Meeting Schedule
The Committee reviewed the proposed 2020 AAC Meeting Schedule.
R/2020-006
It was moved and seconded
That the Agricultural Advisory Committee approve the proposed meeting schedule as
circulated.
CARRIED
6.3. Update on Mill Rates & Water Meter Rates
The staff liaison provided an update from the City of Maple Ridge’s Chief Financial Officer
that the Maple Ridge Council, as part of the 2020-2024 Business Planning process,
approved the recommendation to reduce Farm Class property taxes. Farm Class property
taxes will be reduced by approximately half, phased in over the next two years (2020 and
2021).
Note: Item 6.4 was moved to the end of the agenda.
7. STAFF LIAISON UPDATES
7.1. Advisory Committee Overview
The committee clerk provided an overview on the role of Advisory Committees, Committee
members and meeting procedures and then answered questions from the Committee.
R/2020-007
It was moved and seconded
That staff be directed to bring before Council that the Agricultural Advisory Committee feel
that they have lost the diversity to fully represent agriculture in Maple Ridge and would like
Council to reconsider the existing membership structure to increase the numbers of
Agricultural representatives.
CARRIED
7.2. Agricultural Awareness Grants
The staff liaison informed the Committee that the applications are being accepted for the
Metro Vancouver Agricultural Awareness grants.
8. TASK FORCE REPORTS
8.1. Food Garden Contest
The Committee discussed the 2019 Food Garden Contest, circulated a thank you card
received from a contest participant, and formed a task force for the 2020 contest. The Task
Force is considering adding a “bee-friendly” category for 2020 and Lorraine Bates offered to
distribute the contest flyer at the Agricultural Fair.
R/2020-008
It was moved and seconded
That Carla Schiller and Pascale Shaw be appointed to the Food Garden Task Force for 2020.
CARRIED
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
January 30, 2020
Page 4 of 4
8.2 Education
The staff liaison provided an overview of the tasks appointed to the Education Task Force.
The Committee decided to hold off discussions regarding the work of the Education Task
Force until after the Booth in the Box themes are determined.
8.3 Promotion of Agriculture
The subcommittee will be meeting in the near future to begin putting together the Booth in a
Box. Candace Gordan suggested hosting a Speaker Series in the fall focusing on agriculture
and Angela Boss offered to assist.
Note: Andrew Pozsar left the meeting at 8:52pm.
8.4 Mileage for Metro Vancouver AAC Meetings
Pascale Shaw requested the AAC consider mileage reimbursement for AAC members that are
travelling to Metro Vancouver meetings. The staff liaison confirmed that mileage
reimbursement is permitted in Policy 3.11 and that the AAC has a budget to allow the
expenditure.
R/2020-009
It was moved and seconded
That the Agricultural Advisory Committee reimburse eligible mileage expenses submitted via
the City of Maple Ridge mileage reimbursement form, for AAC members that attend Metro
Vancouver AAC Meetings.
CARRIED
9. ROUNDTABLE
Members provided verbal reports on local agricultural topics and activities. Shannon Lambie
and Angela Boss introduced themselves to the Committee.
10. ADJOURNMENT – 9:15 PM
~Original signed by Councillor Robson~
Councillor Robson, Presiding Member
/em